Levels of Vitamin D can be analysed with a hair strand, New Study Revealed

Levels of Vitamin D can be analyzed with a hair strand, New Study Revealed: A new study at Trinity College Dublin and St James Hospital reveals that the analysing levels of vitamin D will now be easier than before. The vitamin D can now be measured by human hair. Deficiency of vitamin D is related with cardiovascular diseases, inflammation, osteoporosis and diabetes.

Vitamin D levels can now be measured with a hair strand

Vitamin D is also known as the sunshine vitamin which is produced by the body as a reaction to sun exposure as well as it can also be consumed through various food or supplements.

Present test for vitamin D Deficiency

There are numerous techniques however the most precise method to measure exact amount of vitamin D is in your body is the 25-hydroxy vitamin D blood test.

A level of 20 nanograms/millilitre to 50 ng/mL is well thought out to be sufficient for hale and hearty people. A level of less than 12 ng/mL specifies vitamin D deficiency.

About vitamin D

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble steroid hormone forerunner that subsidises to the preservation of normal levels of calcium and phosphorus in the bloodstream. It is frequently known as calciferol.

Vitamin D is formed by the body in reaction to the skin being exposed to sunlight.

In humans, the most significant compounds in this group are vitamin D3, which is also known as cholecalciferol as well as vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol).

It also come about naturally in a few foods comprising some fish, fish liver oils, and egg yolks, therefore vegetarians are at high risk of increasing vitamin D deficiency.

It is necessary for strong bones for the reason that it’s the central action is to aid calcium being immersed in the bones.

Role of Vitamin D

Vitamin D has many roles in the human body and those held in:

Support lung function and cardiovascular health

Backing the health of the immune system, brain, and nervous system

Controlling insulin levels and helps in controlling diabetes

Maintaining the health of bones and teeth

Effect the appearance of genes involved in cancer growth

Determining Vitamin D from human hair

However traditional blood examination captures the levels at a single time point, in contrast, hair, which grows at around one centimetre per month, may perhaps imitate vitamin D status over quite a few months, taking the huge seasonal alterations in the levels.

Lead author Lina Zgaga, Associate Professor at Trinity College Dublin said, “The study presents the idea that vitamin D is being deposited continuously in the hair as it grows, more might be deposited at times when vitamin D concentration in the blood is high, and less when it’s low”.

He further added, “Therefore, a test based on the hair sample might be able to give doctors a measure of vitamin D status over time — if hair is long enough, this even might be over a few years.”

About the study

The results were published in the journal Nutrients. Though, it doesn’t complete here, additional research is required to found the precise relationship amongst vitamin D concentration in the blood as well as in a hair over time.

Zgaga said that there is too a requisite to examine diverse elements that may affect vitamin D levels in hair, the most recognizable ones such as hair colour and thickness, or usage of hair products such as hair dye.

The researchers said that the discovery may perhaps also have additional presentations as hair (along with teeth) are some of the longest durable enduring biological materials after death and therefore it might be likely to consider the vitamin D status of ancient populations such as Elizabethans, Vikings, Celts, Romans, ancient Chinese, Egyptians.